I'm a 24 yr/old female and was on Vyvanse for a little over a year. It made me -much- more focused. Unfortunately, I went off it this past month and I am suffering now from adrenal fatigue. I absolutely think I have ADHD, and knowing what I know about it now, I absolutely think I had it when I was younger (as opposed to being adult on-set). I was one of those kids, however, who "adapted" to living with the condition, i.e., made my room look clean by throwing everything into the closet, drawers, etc. or doing things last minute until the extra adrenalin rush provided some focus for me. I never got the treatment/help I needed when I was younger to develop study skills, organizational skills, etc.
When I started the Vyvanse it was not because a doctor thought maybe I had ADHD. It got to a point where I literally just could not get anything done and I was getting depressed.
Unless your kid is suffering from some very serious side effect of his ADHD- Don't put him on stimulant medication. You will be doing him a much greater service by getting him a tutor, a study coach, whatever he needs, and making sure he is learning how to live with any weaknesses he may have because of (possible) ADHD.
The long term effects of stimulant medications are largely unknown, but at least two possible effects are dependence and adrenal fatigue. I'm not discounting stimulant medication altogether, I know it has dramatically improved the quality of some people's lives, but there very serious risks involved and he really should weigh the costs and benefits himself when he is at an appropriate age to do so.
Even if you find a medication that does help, realize that its just a bandaid to the problem. These medications address the symptoms, not cause of ADHD, so he needs to learn how to study and function and adapt without them unless you want him taking medication for the rest of his life or feeling absolutely dependent on them.
Please, please, please do not put your kid on stimulant medication. Try EVERY possible behavioral therapy solution you can find before you do that. You might want to try to spend some time researching diet, but focus mostly on behavioral therapy.
My son is taking non-stimulant medication and so far no improvement on his behavior, people said it get better with time but he is only 5yr and not looking good was recommended to try a stimulant medication would I see a different or will I regret later ......With his AHDH he displace a aggressive tendencies the more attention that I show he get more aggressive with my self and other children.....
i think you should try to get to the root of the problem. why don't you have him talk to a behavioral therapist? also, please read this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/business/03psych.html?_r=1&scp=7&sq=pfizer&st=cse. it explains the current state affairs and special interests involved better than i can.
YOUR SON PROBABLY DOES NOT HAVE ADHD. My son calmed down and was able to focus better immediately. I also have ADHD and my medication helps me focus. I would go to a different psychiatrist and make sure he was properly diagnosed and tested. This should take at least one hour along with family and school input.
i would go to another doctor. i have 2 boys one with add and one with adhd. meds have worked great for them but with my younger son who has add also had some other behavior issues so i took him to a child phycologist turnd out he has adhd combined type , oppositional defiant disorder , mixed receptive expressive language disorder and posible childhood onset bypoler. i knew the dr was wrong so i did reserch and found what i thought witch was the odd based on his behaviors and then had him refered to the child phycologist they do better and more assesments than the drs do. you know your child better than anyone tell them what you need and get it or go somewhere else is my opinion
I am a psychologist who does ADHD assessments. Children with the typical ADHD slow wave disorder, too much Theta wave or too much Alpha wave, will often do well with a stimulant medication. Those whose attention problems are more caused by a fast wave disorder or too much Beta, will often be made worse by a stimulant. They may need a supplement like GABA or another more calming medication. Consult your health care provider and check out neurotheapy because it is a non-medication way to deal with ADHD.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hi-
You definitely have the wrong medication, but not necessarily the wrong diagnosis. ADHD kids respond differently to ADHD meds which is why there are a bunch of them to choose from.
You did a wise thing by trying the meds the first time when you could watch and see the response. I wish more parents would do that.
I would recommend that you try a different med when your doctor is in town so that you can work with him and give him immediate feedback.
I would also suggest that you investigate "alternative" forms of treatment as well as other possible diagnoses. In my research I have found 50 conditions that mimic ADHD. Some of these are extremely easy to treat, and most doctors don't know about these.
It's extremely sad when a parent justs accepts what she is told without looking into other possiblities. What so often happens is that the kid gets a little better, but still has most of the ADHD problems. He never gets the real treatment that he needs.
Good luck.
Warmly,
Anthony Kane, MD
http://addadhdadvances.com